[f. UNRIGHTEOUS a.] The quality of being unrighteous; an instance of this, an unrighteous action.
c. 825. Vesp. Psalter, v. 7. Ðu fedest … alle ða ðe wircað unrehtwisnisse.
c. 1055. Byrhtferth’s Handboc, in Anglia, VIII. 332. Iniquitas on lyden on englisc ys ʓecweden unrihtwisnys.
c. 1200. Vices & Virtues, 37. Ðurh his unrihtwisnesse he bringþ his saule in to helle pine.
a. 1300. E. E. Psalter xxxvi. 7. In man … Unrightwisnes þat es doand.
c. 1380. Wyclif, Wks. (1880), 240. A grete vnriȝtwisnesse regneþ among lordis whanne þei wolen not distroie pride.
1422. Yong, trans. Secreta Secret., 132. Vnryghtuossnes disherityth kynges and Pryncis.
1535. Coverdale, 2 Esdras vii. 35. The righteousnesses shall watch, and the vnrighteousnesses shall beare no rule.
1590. Babington, Expos. Commandm., 70. I am not worthie to beholde the height of Heauen, for the multitude of my vnrighteousnesse.
1611. Bible, Rom. i. 18. The wrath of God is reueiled from heauen against all vnrighteousness of men.
a. 1677. Barrow, Serm., Wks. (1686), II. v. 80. The inherent unrighteousness consequent upon Adam’s sin.
a. 1758[?]. Witherspoon, Ess., Sel. Wks. 1804, I. 36. He is a God … with whom unrighteousness can have no communion.
1833. S. Hoole, Discourses, xv. 200. The unrighteousness of living to himself alone.
1871. Jowett, Plato, II. 330. If only he can … be pure from evil or unrighteousness.
